Karaops francesae, Crews, Sarah C. & Harvey, Mark S., 2011

Crews, Sarah C. & Harvey, Mark S., 2011, The spider family Selenopidae (Arachnida, Araneae) in Australasia and the Oriental Region, ZooKeys 99, pp. 1-104 : 53-56

Karaops francesae sp. n. Figs 65-6894100Map 6

Type material.

Holotype male (WAM T54996): Fitzgerald River National Park, northeast slope of West Mount Barren, 34°13'S, 119°26'E, Western Australia, Australia, 28.V.1994, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, under rock. Paratype: Fitzgerald River National Park, south slopes of East Mount Barren, 33°55'S, 120°01'E, Western Australia, Australia, 26.V.1994, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, G. Harold, N. Brown, under rocks, 1♀ (WAM T54994).

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Boat Harbour, 34°30'42"S, 118°48'13"E, 9.III.2007, G. Burne, on trunk of Eucalyptus platypus , 1♀ (WAM T81157); Cape Arid National Park, Mount Arid, south side near summit, 33°57'45"S, 123°13'01"E, 5.VI.2007, M.L. Moir, M.C. Leng, under rocks, 1♀, 1♂, (WAM T80667), Cape Arid National Park, site 1, Mount Arid, 33°59'14.8"S, 123°13'22.1"E, 25.X.2008, J.M. Waldock, S.C. Crews, under granite rocks on granite slope, 3♀, 2♂, ~32 immatures (WAM T94036, T94046); Cape Le Grand National Park, outcrop above Rossiter Bay, site 4, 33°59'26"S, 122°15'34"E, 4.VI.2007, M.L Moir, M.C. Leng, under granite rocks, 1♀ (WAM T80725); Cape Le Grand, Lucky Bay, 34°00'S, 122°14'E, 19.V.1977, R.P. McMillan, 1♀ (WAM T93/1328); Cape Le Grand National Park, site 1, Rossiter Bay, 33°58'20.6"S, 122°16'13.0"E, 21.X.2008, J.M. Waldock, S.C. Crews, under granite on granite slope, 4♀, 1♂, ~33 immatures (WAM T93995, T94050, T94051, T94053, T94054, T94055, T97252); Cape Riche, Mount Melville, near summit, 34°35'46"S, 118°44'33"E, 8.VI.2007, M.L. Moir, M.C. Leng, under laterite rocks, 1♂ (WAM T80649); Duke of Orleans Bay, Mount Belches, southern side, site 3, 33°56'22"S, 122°34'50"E, 2.VI.2007, M.L. Moir, A. Longbottom, under granite rocks, 1♀, 1♂, 1 immature (WAM T80695); Fitzgerald River National Park, rocky outcrop northeast of Pt. Edwards, site 3, 33°57'37"S, 119°57'28"E, 26.V.2007, M.L. Moir, M.C. Leng, under rock, 1♀, 1♂, (WAM T80760); Fitzgerald River National Park, Northeast slope of West Mount Barren, 34°13'S, 119°26'E, 28.V.1994, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, under rocks, 1♀ (WAM T54995); Fitzgerald River National Park, East Mount Barren, site 6, 33°55'29"S, 120°01'07"E, 25.XI.2006, M.L. Moir, K.E.C. Brennan, under rock, 1♀ (WAM T78498); Fitzgerald River National Park, East Mount Barren, site 7, 33°55'28"S, 120°01'13"E, 25.XI.2006, M.L. Moir, K.E.C. Brennan, under rock, 2♀, 1♂ (WAM T78499, T78500, T78501); Fitzgerald River National Park, south slopes of East Mount Barren, 33°55'S, 120°01'E, 28.V.1994, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, G. Harold, N. Brown, under rocks, 2♀, 1♂ (WAM T54993); Fitzgerald River National Park, West Mount Barren, 34°12'39.5"S, 119°25'58.6"E, 21.IV.2009, M. Rix, 1 penultimate ♂ (WAM T97291); Mount Lindesay, 34°50'35"S, 117°18'22"E, 6.V.2005, M.S. Harvey, under granite rock, 1♀ (WAM T66488); Mount Lindesay, granite outcrop, site 4, 34°50'41"S, 117°17'54"E, 20.X.2006, M.L. Moir, J.M. Waldock, under granite rock, 1♀ (WAM T78491); Mount Lindesay National Park, Mt. Lindesay, north of Denmark, first major granite outcrop along trail, ~2 km in, 34°50'41.1"S, 117°17'18.3"E, 10.II.2009, S.C. Crews, under granite, 5♀, 1♂ (WAM T97245-T97250), Ravensthorpe Range South, site WAM 01, 33°37'09.06"S, 120°09'58.01"E, 15.V.2007, M.C. Leng, M.L. Moir, under mallee bark, 1♂ (WAM 80848); Ravensthorpe Range South, site WAM 10, 33°38'16.03"S, 120°10'46.01"E, 17.V.2007, M.C. Leng, M.L. Moir, under rock, 1♂ (WAM T80881); Ravensthorpe Range South, site WAM 41, 33°36'40.05"S, 120°09'06.00"E, 24.V.2007, M.C. Leng, M.L. Moir, under rock, 1♀ (WAM T80996); Ravensthorpe Range South, site WAM 47, 33°38'19.07"S, 120°11'16.06"E, 28.V.2007; M.C. Leng, M.L. Moir, under rock, 1 immature (WAM T81019); Ravensthorpe Range North, Overshot Hill, site WAM 25, 33°32'04.02"S, 120°00'46.03"E, 20.V.2007, M.C. Leng, M.L. Moir, under rock, 1♂, 3♀ (WAM T80928, T80925, T80926, T80927); Recherche Archipelago: Wilson Island, 34°07'S, 122°00'E, 12.V.1991, J. Dell, 1♀ (WAM T93/1327); Recherche Archipelago, Woody Island, 33°57'S, 121°59'E, 9.V.1999, A.F. Longbottom, under granite flake, 1♂ (WAM T54997); Stirling Range National Park, Talyuberlup Picnic Site, 34°24'56"S, 117°57'18"E, 25.IV.1996, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, B.Y. Main, under bark of Eucalyptus wandoo , 1♂ (WAM T54999); Stirling Range National Park, Cascades Trail below Bluff Knoll, 34°22.332'S; 118°14.721'E, 9.II.2009, S.C. Crews, M. Harvey, under granite of small outcrop in forest, 1♀, 4 immatures (WAM T97232, T97241-T97244); Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, granite outcrop, site 6, 34°59'18"S, 118°11'44"E, 14.X.2006, M.L. Moir, J.M. Waldock, under granite rock, 2♀, 3♂ (WAM T78482, T78484-T78487); Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, above Robinson’s Gully, 34°59'30"S, 118°12'01"E, 28.V.2004, M.S. Harvey, under granite rocks, 1♂ (WAM T62230); Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, site MG08, top end of R7 gully, 34°59'44"S, 118°11'40"E, 26.X.1995, S. Comer, pitfall, 1♀ (WAM T67614); Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, granite outcrop, site 10, 35°00'20"S, 118°11'10"E, 19.X.2006, M.L. Moir, J.M. Waldock, under granite rock, 2♀, 1♂ (WAM T78488, T78490, T78489); Waychinicup National Park, Mount Manypeaks, granite outcrop, site 1, 34°53'30"S, 118°18'44"E, 26.X.2006, M.L. Moir, A. Sampey, under granite rock, 2♀ (WAM T78494, T78495); Waychinicup National Park, Mount Manypeaks, granite outcrop, site 2, 34°53'45"S, 118°18'07"E, 26.X.2006, M.L. Moir, A. Sampey, under granite rock, 1♀ (WAM T78492)

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of the second author’s (MSH) daughter, Frances Harvey.

Diagnosis.

Males of this species can be separated from others, in particular Karaops toolbrunup sp. n., by having the tip of the cymbium rounded and the embolus curving around the outer edge of the cymbium (Fig. 65). Females can be separated from other species by having epigynal pockets and the internal ducts (Figs 67-68).

Remarks.

Throughout its range, this species is subject to variation in body size, ventral tibial and metatarsal spination of legs I and II, as well as in the number of promarginal teeth. There are 6 pairs of spines ventrally on tibiae I and II in most specimens, but some specimens have 5 pairs. Typically, there are 4 pairs of spines located ventrally on the metatarsus, however, at least one specimen has a 2-2-1 pattern. This species has either 4 or 5 promarginal teeth. The leg lengths also vary a great deal and have been found to be 3421, 23=41, 3241 and 2341. There is no genitalic variation.

Description.

Male (holotype):Color: carapace yellow-brown, with slightly darker marks laterally and medially; sternum pale yellow-brown; chelicerae yellow-brown; maxillae pale yellow-brown; labium pale yellow-brown; abdomen dorsally pale creamy-yellow with a few darker flecks; ventrally pale yellow-brown; legs with femora, tibiae and tip of tarsi lightly annulated. Cephalothorax: setae long and thin; 0.94 times longer than broad; fovea longitudinal, broad, very shallow. Eyes:AER slightly recurved; PER slightly recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye group width 1.19; eye diameters, AME 0.17, ALE 0.08, PME 0.19, PLE 0.25; interdistances AME-ALE 0.29, PME-PLE 0.23, ALE-PLE 0.29, AME-PME 0.04; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.11, PME-PME 0.52; clypeus 0.08 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; lateral boss present, smooth; promargin with 4 teeth, retromargin with 3 teeth; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:0.95 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Pedipalp:femur, spination dorsal 0 –1– 2; retrolateral tibial apophysis with 2 processes, dorsal apophysis long, slightly sinusoidal, tapered and pointed in lateral view, ventral apophysis slightly shorter, pointed in lateral view; retrolateral basal cymbial process absent; cymbial scopulae absent, cymbium round to triangular, angled bottom right; conductor large pointed at tip, directed laterally; embolus long and slender, beginning at 6 o’clock, ending at 2 o’clock; MA short, ovoid, centrally depressed with two processes, one small and unsclerotized, the other a sclerotized, blunt hook (Figs 65-66). Legs:leg I only slightly shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 3241; scopulae absent on all legs; tarsus I–IV with strong claw tufts; pr claws with c. 10 teeth, rl claws with none; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti d 0, v 2 –2–2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2–2– 2; Ti and Mt I and II with weak spines; leg II, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0 –1– 1; Ti v 2 –2–2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2–2– 2; leg III, Fm pr 1 –1– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0 –1– 1; Ti 0; Mt 0; leg IV, Fm pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 1 –1– 1; Ti 0; Mt 0. Abdomen:terminal setal tufts present. Dimensions: Total length 5.15. Cephalothorax length 2.34, width 2.71. Sternum length 1.42, width 1.49. Abdomen length 2.81, width 2.03. Pedipalp: Fm 0.75, Pt 0.46, Ti 0.40, Ta 0.75, (total) 2.36. Leg I: Fm 3.89, Pt 1.03, Ti 3.18, Mt 2.96, Ta 1.24, (total) 12.20. Leg II: Fm 3.88, Pt 1.48, Ti 3.18, Mt 2.99, Ta 1.22, (total) 12.75. Leg III: Fm 4.22, Pt 1.18, Ti 3.22, Mt 2.96, Ta 1.37, (total) 12.95. Leg IV: Fm 4.07, Pt 0.96, Ti 3.22, Mt 2.82, Ta 1.17, (total) 12.24.

Female (paratype):Color: carapace uniformly yellow-brown; sternum pale yellow; chelicerae pale yellow with darker infuscations anteriorly; maxillae pale yellow-brown; labium pale yellow-brown; abdomen dorsally yellow-brown with darker markings; ventrally pale yellow-brown; legs with femora and tibia lightly annulated, annulations don’t completely encircle legs, femora with lots of dark flecks. Cephalothorax:setae long and thin; 0.87 times longer than broad; fovea longitudinal, broad, very shallow. Eyes:AER nearly straight; PER slightly recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye group width 1.43; eye diameters, AME 0.15, ALE 0.06, PME 0.23, PLE 0.25; interdistances AME-ALE 0.42, PME-PLE 0.33, ALE-PLE 0.29, AME-PME 0.06; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.17, PME-PME 0.61; clypeus 0.1 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; lateral boss present, smooth; promargin with 5 teeth, retromargin with 3 teeth; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:0.93 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Pedipalp:tarsus slightly swollen, claw present, with c. 6 teeth. Legs:leg I only slightly shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 3241; scopulae absent on all legs; pr claws with c. 10 teeth, rl claws with none; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti d 0, v 2 –2–2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2–2– 2; Ti and Mt I and II with strong spines; leg II, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti v 2 –2–2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2–2– 2; leg III, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti 0; Mt 0; leg IV, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti 0; Mt 0. Abdomen:terminal setal tufts present. Epigyne:lateral lobes present, small comma-shaped marks, slightly sclerotized, in posterior third of plate, copulatory openings located here, epigynal pockets present; internally, ducts twisted 3 times leading to ovoid spermathecae, fertilization ducts located posteriorly, posterodorsal fold absent (Figs 67-68). Dimensions: Total length 5.87. Cephalothorax length 2.48, width 3.14. Sternum length 2.47, width 2.64. Abdomen length 3.38, width 2.85. Pedipalp: Fm 0.77, Pt 0.48, Ti 0.55, Ta 0.78, (total) 2.68. Leg I: Fm 2.92, Pt 1.27, Ti 2.70, Mt 2.18, Ta 1.13, (total) 10.20. Leg II: Fm 3.51, Pt 1.43, Ti 2.77, Mt 2.04, Ta 1.13, (total) 10.88. Leg III: Fm 3.07, Pt 1.18, Ti 2.93, Mt 2.40, Ta 1.08, (total) 11.29. Leg IV: Fm 3.26, Pt 1.09, Ti 2.52, Mt 2.28, Ta 1.18, (total) 10.33.

Natural history.

This species has been collected from under bark, on trees, and under rocks. The female guards her egg-sac (Fig. 94).

Distribution.

Found along the south coast of Western Australia from Mount Lindesay east to Mount Diamond, and in the islands of the Recherche Archipelago (Fig. 100; Map 6).